CCTV

Spectral Edge launch at ISC West

by Mark Rowe

UK image processing software company Spectral Edge is launching its RGB (visible light) and Near Infrared (NIR) Fusion product ‘Spectral Edge Fusion’ into the surveillance market at ISC West 2019, in Sands Expo, Las Vegas from April 10 to 12.

Spectral Edge Fusion can provide surveillance cameras with colour images even in low or mixed lighting. It is also able to capture much more depth and colour in detail that would normally be hidden in foggy or hazy conditions, the makers add. Crucially, as well as delivering better-looking images to human viewers, the Spectral Edge Fusion platform enables applications such as facial or object recognition to deliver higher success rates in low light the company says.

The product is particularly for supporting video analytics capabilities such as facial, object and action recognition, as well as other surveillance applications which demand quality images to achieve identification to minimise false positive alerts. Users can generate image for identification also when there is ‘mixed lighting’, over-exposure and under-exposure as seen below. As many as 22 of the 25 images taken from a bus camera would not be high enough quality to enable automated positive identification using facial recognition software. However, by combining RGB and NIR light to additional detail and depth it would be possible to get a reliable, consistent image capable of identifying an individual accurately in more than 90 per cent of these cases, as pictured.

The product uses its patented fusion algorithm to create three channels from four original channels: Red, Green, Blue and NIR light. It’s the only technology on the market the company claims which can perform this light fusion without introducing pixilation, artefacts or additional noise. Spectral Edge predicts its development in RGB and NIR fusion will render RGB-only sensors obsolete within the next few years once the technology is proven in the field.

According to the manufacturer, the product also ensures minimal loss of resolution – while delivering improved contrast, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio. So, what’s lost in colour as daylight fades is made up for in extra texture and depth of image which the NIR delivers given suitable IR illumination.

Surveillance camera manufacturers can save because only one readily-available sensor and lens is needed for a single day/night camera. No mechanical switching between sensors is required and there is no requirement for an IR-cut filter. This helps to minimise moving parts which wear out over time and extends surveillance cameras’ Mean Time to Failure.

NIR can be detected by the same sensor chip as RGB. There is no extra cost associated with such manufacturing variants. Put simply, some of the pixels which sense visible light are replaced with pixels sensitive to NIR. Spectral Edge Fusion has already been successfully tested on a range of such sensors which support both RGB and NIR wavelengths.

Spectral Edge Fusion can be fitted into System-on-Chips (SoCs) which process sensor outputs without increasing the silicon area significantly. The innovator plans to have a prototype development (with RGB+NIR fusion capability built into it) available to show chip and camera manufacturers at its stand (41030) at the show.

Rhodri Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Spectral Edge, said: “We think that our innovation in RGB+NIR fusion could render RGB-only sensors obsolete a few years from now. We are looking forward to talking about this with surveillance market players in the US where so many great camera and chip manufactures operate. The market here is highly-focused on manufacturing high quality sensors designed to optimise the latest video analytics innovations. It is these vendors, system builders and integrators which Spectral Edge plans to meet at ISC West this year.”

About Spectral Edge

The company was spun out of University of East Anglia’s Colour Lab five years ago and initially applied its technology to broadcast television to support colour blind viewers to help them view the difference between colours on-screen. A modified version of this technology was licensed by Sky Italia to improve perceptual detail for HDTV viewing. As a result of this licensing arrangement with Sky Italia some 55 satellite channels in Italy use Spectral Edge technology. Spectral Edge recently secured a third round of £4m funding for its R&D work as the company focused on the surveillance camera market.

Spectral Edge will shortly be publishing a white paper to go into more detail about how Spectral Edge Fusion works.

Related News

  • CCTV

    Allcooper aid

    by Mark Rowe

    When Gloucester cyclist Jamie McDonald set off on his latest challenge, he had one thing in mind – to become a world…

  • CCTV

    Wisenet distributor

    by Mark Rowe

    Security Dynamics, a specialist provider of network video surveillance products, has been appointed a distributor for Wisenet IP products. Established in 2000,…

  • CCTV

    Hanwha Techwin at IFSEC

    by Mark Rowe

    Hanwha Techwin has announced that the theme for its stand at IFSEC International 2016 is ‘A Bright and Secure Future’. Bob (HY)…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing